Printer Says 'Offline'? How to Fix It on Windows
Step-by-step fixes when Windows says your printer is offline: check the connection, restart, clear the print queue, update drivers and more.
Few things are more frustrating than needing to print something urgently and seeing "Printer offline". The good news is that it's usually a connection problem, not a broken printer. Work through these steps in order.
1. Check the basics
- Is the printer switched on, with no error lights or messages on its display?
- Does it have paper and ink or toner, and no paper jam?
- If it's a USB printer, is the cable firmly plugged in at both ends? Try a different USB port.
2. Restart everything
Switch off the printer, your computer and (for wireless printers) your router. Turn the router on first and wait a couple of minutes, then the printer, then the computer. This fixes a surprising number of problems.
3. Check the printer is on the same Wi-Fi
Wireless printers often drop off the network after a router change, a new Wi-Fi password or a power cut. Use the printer's screen or settings menu to check it's connected to your home Wi-Fi network. If you recently changed your Wi-Fi name or password, reconnect it using the printer's wireless setup option.
4. Turn off "Use Printer Offline"
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer and choose Open print queue. In the Printer menu, make sure Use Printer Offline is not ticked.
5. Clear stuck print jobs
A single stuck document can block everything else. In the same print queue window, choose Printer > Cancel All Documents. Then restart the printer.
6. Set the right default printer
If you've had several printers, Windows may be sending documents to an old one. In Printers & scanners, turn off Let Windows manage my default printer, then select your printer and choose Set as default.
7. Run the troubleshooter
Windows includes a printer troubleshooter that can fix common settings problems automatically. In Windows 11, look in Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, or search for "printer troubleshooter" in the Start menu.
8. Remove and re-add the printer
In Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Remove. Restart the computer, then choose Add device and let Windows find the printer again.
9. Install the maker's software
Download the latest driver or app from the official HP, Canon, Epson, Brother or other manufacturer website. Avoid "driver download" websites that appear in search ads, because some bundle unwanted software. The manufacturer's app often includes its own diagnostic tool.